Machine for pressing and finishing hollow articles from paper-pulp



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. J. KEEFE. I MACHINE FOR PRESSING AND FINISHING HOLLOW ARTICLES FROMPAPER PULP. No. 251,365. Patented Dec. 27,1881.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. W. J. 'K'EEFE. MAUHINE FOR PRBSSING AND FINISHING HOLLOW'ARTIOLES FROMPAPER PULP. No. 251,365. Patented Dec. 27,1881.

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I Patented Dec. 27,1881.

} W. J. KEEFE. MACHINE FOR PRESSING AND FINISHING HOLLOW ARTICLES FROMPAPER PULP N. PEIERS PhntM-ilhog p n Washington. D c

(No Model.) v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

W. J .KEEPE. MACHINE FOR PRESSING AND FINISHING HOLLOW ARTICLES FROMPAPER "PULP. No. 251,365. Patented Dec. 27,1881.

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UNITED I STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

wILLIAM J. KEEFE, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR PRESSING AND FINISHING HOLLOW ARTICLES FROM PAPER-PULP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,365, dated December27, 1881.

'Application filed April 26,1881. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. KEEFE, of Boston, county of Suffolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines forPressing and Finishing Hollow Articles from Paper-Pulp, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification.

This invention, relating to mechanism for pressing and finishing hollowpaper-pulp articles-such as boxes, tubs, or pailsis an improvement onUnited States PatentNo.202,353, granted to me April 16, 1878, and on themachine represented in the Patent No. 89,433, April 27, 1869, thereinreferred to.

In this invention I have provided a carrier having a series of connectedcells or cups to receive the boxes or other hollow articles to bepressed or finished, the said carrier being operated automatically atthe proper times to place the boxes or hollow articles held in the cellsor cups immediately above a plunger located directly below the openingof the'matrix and in line with an expansible die, so that upwardmovement of the said plunger, the box resting thereon, will remove thebox from the cell or cup then holding it into the open matrix, andbetween it and the expansible die. This done, the matrix, if for a roundbox, is contracted, or its parts are moved inwardly to their full extentin close contact with the box or hollow article to be pressed, and theexpansible die,by hydraulic pressureinstantaneously derived from a pump,is distended to such an extent as to compress or consolidate the wallsof the box or hollow article against the faces of the parts of the thenstationary matrix against which the exterior of the box rested beforethe die was expanded. As soon as the die is partially expanded byhydrostatic pressure, expanded for the purpose described in my formerpatent, the upward movement of the plunger is commenced, and such upwardmovement is continued until the full pressure of the die is obtained,after which the expansible die is relieved from hydrostatic pressure,permitting it to resume its normal size. The matrixthen recedes quicklydirectly away from the center of the boxyleaving it on the plunger,which, in its descent, returns the pressed box into the same cell of thecarrier from which it was lifted to be pressed.

In order to enable the mechanism herein described tooperate rapidly, asis essentially necessary for successful and profitable working, it isimportant that the pressed box always certainly descend with theplunger, no matter what may be its speed of operation. This I have beenenabled to do in the following manner, viz: 1 have made the die longerthan the interior depth of the box to be pressed by it, so that when theplunger is elevated to compressthe bottom of the box between it and thedie the said die will be lifted or shortened in length before anyhydraulic pressure is exerted on it. This shorteningof thelength of thedie, as described, keeps the bottom of the box pressed very closelyagainst the face of the plunger, both while the sides of the box arebeing pressed and while the matrix is being expanded or drawn away fromthe outer walls of the box, this latter movement of the matrix takingplace just as the plunger begins to de- Scend. As the plunger descendsafter withdrawing the matrix the die, relieved from hydrostaticpressure, resumes its normal length and maintains close contact of thebox with the plunger, thus obviating the admission of air between thebox and plunger and insuring the retention of the box on the plungeruntil it be broughtto thelevel of the top of the table, when furthermovement of the carrier causes the cell or cup then holding the box todetach the box from the top ofthe plunger and deliver it upon thestationary table. This last movement of the carrier brings a cell or cupwith a new or unpressed box above the plunger. In its further movementsthe cell of the carrier containing the pressed box delivers the sameoveraproper openin gin the table, through which the box is deliveredupon an endless belt or other proper movable receiver. (Not shown.)

I have added to my machine a mechanism to show the said parts. Fig. 6 isa sectional detail on the dotted line, Fig.5; Figs. 7, 8, details of theautomatic stopping devices; and Figs. 9, 10, vertical longitudinalsection and partial end view of the pump to control the fluid whichexpands the die.

The main shaft a of the machine, driven in any usual way, has upon itthe loose gear a, having its hub a made as part of a clutch. As hereinshown, the clutch part contains ratchet-teeth to be en gaged by thecorresponding clutch part a having ratchet-teeth, the said clutch partbeing keyed to, and so as to slide upon but rotate with, the shaft a.The gear a engages the gear a on the cam-shaft a provided with cams b cd 6 which actuate the parts of the machine in the proper time and order.The cam I) (best shown in Fig. 3) acts upon a roller or other stud of alever, 1), having its fulcrum on the rod 9, and connected at its upperend by a link, 11 with a pawl-carrying frame, 11 (see Fig. 1,) having apawl, I), kept pressed bya spring, 2, against the ratchet If on thelower end of the shaft 1). This shaft 1)", at its upper end, above thestationary table A, has a head or disk, I)", which I denominate acarrier, with which is connected the cells or cups h, which receive andcarry the pulpboxes or articles to be pressed and finished in themachine, the said pawl moving the said carrier and cells or cupsintermittingly at the proper times to place a pulp-box above the plunger0. This plunger 0, fitted into suitable guideways, 0 immediately below ahole or opening, 3, in the table A, as shown in Fig. 3, is connectedwith the upper member, 0 of a toggle, the lower member, 0, of which ispivoted at 0 upon a fixed part of the frame-work. This toggle, atitscenter, is joined by a double link, 0 with the upper end of a doublelever, 0 having its fulcrum on the rod g, a pin, 4, which connects thelink 0 and lever c", having a roll, 0 which is acted upon by the cam cto elevate the plunger 0.

The end of the pin 4, or a roller thereon, is

acted upon by the cam '11 to spring the toggle, as in Fig. 3. Theexpansibleindia-rnbber die or, flanged about its base, as shown insection, Fig. 3, is held in place on the cross-head k by means of aflanged collar, 7c, bolted thereto. This cross-head has a plug, 75,extended from its lower side into the die, but shorter than the saiddie. This plug, in practice, will be of the same diameter as theinterior diameter of the die .70. The plug receives or is connected withthe pipe 70, joined with the pumpcylinder k The piston 7c is joined bylink It" with the upper end of a lever, it, having its fulcrum on therod g. The lever and piston-rod are actuated at the proper times toforce water into the die by the cam d. .The piston is withdrawn by thecam Z, which acts on the end of the pin 5, connecting thelink k andlever 70 or on a roller on the said pin.

The fluid to fill the pump-cylinder, k pipe 70 and die 00 may beintroduced therein through the supply-chamber the upper part of which iscovered by a removable cap having a puppetorsafety valve,p, ofany usualconstruction. This chamber 70 contains a nut, 11, having a centralpassage to guide the hollow stem of the valve 19 which is kept pressedinto the valveseat 10 by a spring, 12, the resistance of which may beregulated in accordance with the pressure desired to be exercised by thedie x by turning the said nut.

The outer end of the pump-cylinder has a hollow screw-plug,p providedwith a springheld valve, 11, having a port, 15, and an annular groove,14, in communication with a port, 16, leading into chamber k.

The resistance of the spring 17, holding the valve 1), may be regulatedby turning the nut 18 at the inner end of the rod 19, upon which thevalve is placed. The spring 17 is connected with screw 20. The pipe 70(shown broken off in Fig. 10) has itslower end in communication with theport 22, (shown in dotted lines,) the mouth of which opens into thepumpcylinder k The pipe 70 will have a suitable pressuregage, 'r,connected with it. (Shown only in Fig. 1.) The piston 70, in its forwardstroke, will force the fluid of the pump-cylinder into the pipe 70 anddie a, expanding the latter until the spring 19 yields, when the fluidin front of the piston will thereafter enter the chamber k by liftingthe valve 19 On the return-stroke of the piston 70 the die will berelieved from fluid-pressure and the fluid will follow the piston; butshould the fluid have been so wasted as to result in forminga vacunm atthe return-stroke of the piston, then in such case the valve 18 willfollow the direction of the movement of the piston k and permit thefluid to pass from the chamber k, v

through port 16, into the plug 19 and out from its center, thenuncovered by the said .valve. The chamber k it will thus be seen,receives fluid under excess of pressure, and delivers it at the propertimes to the pump-to avoid a vacuum and furnish a sufficient supply toinsure proper fluid-pressure at the next forward stroke of the piston.As the piston is drawn from the pumpcylinder the water is exhausted fromthe die sufficiently to enable it to contract and resume its normal sizeor condition.

The water or fluid employed in the pump and die is used over and overagain, and the waste, which is very small, is supplied automatically, asherein shown, from a supplychamber, it having a system of valves, asdescribed.

The matrix is composed, as herein shown, of four pieces, m m m an. Eachpart m and m is attached to a wedge-shaped carriage, m, which is movedbackward and forward positively by a wedge-block, m preferably connectedwith the carriage byadovetail, as shown at m, Fig. 6. These wedge-blocksm are connected by links m with arms m of rock-shaft m having an arm, moperated upon by the cam e. The movement of the wedge-blocks forwardcauses the parts m and m to approach each other and bear against the boxor other hollow article between their faces. The parts m and m arebeveled, as shown at Fig. 5, to receive the parts m and m which arecorrespondingly beveled at their rear sides, and kept in contact withthe beveled portions of the parts m m by suitable springs,e, (shown onlyin Fig. 3,) so that as the parts an m are moved toward or from eachother or the center of the box the parts m and m will be automaticallymoved toward and from the center of the box.

To stop the machine automatically I have added to it a finger, it, (seeFig. 7,) on a rockshaft, n, which, through intermediate devices to behereinafter described, will operate the clutch part a and disengage itfrom the clutch part a of the gear a, thus letting it run loosely on theshaft to when the plunger fails to bring down with it a box or otherhollow article. The rock-shaft has an arm, n joined by link a with asliding hole-covering plate, n fitted intoa guideway or groove at theend of the arm n of a rock-shaft, a, held in bearings M, the said shaftit having a forked arm, n", with pins n to enter an annular groove, 6,in the hub of the clutch part (6 The spring 8, in its normal condition,keeps the plate a in such position as to cover the hole 10 at the end ofarm a just as the carrier is to remove a pressed box from the plungerupon the table A. lfa box has been pulled down with the plunger and leftbelow the cell or cup, the carrier, when moved, will carry the said boxagainst the finger n and turn it and the rock-shaft n far enough towithdraw the plate a to uncover the said hole 10. As the carrier is somoved a cam, f, on the shaft a acts upon a stud or pin, 0, preferablyadjustably connected with the lever 0, having at its other end a socket,0 suitably shaped to receive in it loosely the lower end of a pin, 0preferably ballshaped at its lower end, and having its upper endextended into the hole 10 of the arm a If as the pin o islifted in thehole 10 the plate it covers the said hole'10, as it will do ifa box hasnot been brought down with the plunger, the said pin, meeting the platen will move the arm a, shaft 12 disengage the clutch, and stop themachine; but if the plate a is withdrawn to uncover the hole 10 by thepresence of a box below the cell or cup, the pin will not be obstructedand the machine will continue in operation. The lower end of the pin 0will be so connected with the lever 0 as to be drawn down positively.

The drawing, Fig. 3, shows a box, t, in section. This box maybe producedfrom pulp by a machine such as represented in my Patent No. 202,353, orin my pending application filed in the United States Patent Office May6, 1880, serial No. 9,177. The box (shown as resting on the plunger)will by the straightening of the toggle be carried upward from theposition Fig.3 into thespaceof the matrix, and between the interior ofthe matrix and the expansible die x, and the bottom of the box will beheld between the plunger and the lower end of the shortened die, aspreviously described. Then the wedge-block closes the matrix a gainsttheouter sides of the box, and after that, as the plunger is somewhatfarther elevated to press the bottom and lower angles or corners of thebox, the die is expanded by hydrostatic pressure and the box is pressed.Having been pressed, the die is removed from hydrostatic expandingpressure and the parts of the matrix removed outward a little, afterwhich the pi unger descends, the die following it and maintainingcontact with the inner side of the boxbottom until the die reaches itsnormal length.

The faces of the movable parts of the matrix will be chased or out indesign to emboss the box or hollow article externally. Such a box willform the subject-matter of another application for Letters Patent.

I claim- 1. [n a machine for pressing boxes orhollow articles, themovable carrier and its series of cells or cups to receive the hollowarticle to be pressed, and a plunger and expansible die, cooperatingsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The movable carrier and its series of cells to receive the hollowarticle to be pressed, combined with the matrix to receive the hollowarticle removed from a cell of the carrier by the plunger, substantiallyas described.

3. The movable carrier, its series of cells or cups to receive thehollow article to be pressed, and the plunger and expansible die,combined with the movable matrix, to operate substantially as described.

4. In a machine to press hollow articles of paper-pulp, the expansibledie and a matrix, combined with apump to force a fluid into the saiddie, substantially as described.

5. The expansible die and plunger to place upon it the hollow article tobe pressed, combined with the separable matrix, to operate substantiallyas described.

6. The expansible die and pump to force a fluid into or draw a fluidfrom it, combined with a matrix and a plunger to place the hollowarticle on the matrix surrounding the die, substantially as described.

7. The matrix composed of the parts an m and the parts m m each providedwith inclines, and the springs e, substantially as described.

8. The parts at m of the matrix and the carriage in, combined with thewedge-blocks m and suitable means to operate the said wedgeblocks,substantially as described.

9. The carriage m and matrix part m, combined with the wedge-blockconnected therewith by a dovetail, substantially as described,

10. In a machine to press hollow articles of paper-pulp, a table, A, andplunger adapted to move through it, combined with a movable carrier andcell or cup, to operate substan tially as described.

11. The plunger and movable carrier provided with cells or cups to holdthe pressed hollow article, combined with the finger 'n and clutch andsuitable intermediate connecting mechanism, whereby the absence of a boxfrom the plunger as the carrier is moved automatically stops themachine, substantially as described.

12(The expansible die, combined with a pump provided with a fluidchamber, and valvesp and 18,130 maintainthe proper amount of fluid atthe desired pressure, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J KEEFE.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, J 0s. P. LIVERMORE.

